Author Topic: Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat - Meridian-M №10 - Plesetsk 43/3 - Mar 22, 2022 (12:48 UTC) (Read 7221 times)

Josh_from_Canada · « **on:** 03/14/2022 10:15 pm »

A reliable source on the NK forum says a launch from Plesetsk is happening on March 22nd. Based on the reports of an upcoming Glonass launch, I'm assuming this is referring to the final Glonass-M satellite.
https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?PHPSESSID=6aeaeo7m2b02btff5ai6tpcsh7;topic=16307.msg2367945#msg2367945

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/15/2022 03:18 pm »

So far all the NK source is willing to reveal is that it is a tried-and-tested type of satellite, but not Glonass-M.

Josh_from_Canada · « **Reply #2 on:** 03/15/2022 05:09 pm »

Quote from: B. Hendrickx on 03/15/2022 03:18 pm

So far all the NK source is willing to reveal is that it is a tried-and-tested type of satellite, but not Glonass-M.

Meridian-M №10?

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/15/2022 07:34 pm »

Quote from: Josh_from_Canada on 03/15/2022 05:09 pm

Quote from: B. Hendrickx on 03/15/2022 03:18 pm
So far all the NK source is willing to reveal is that it is a tried-and-tested type of satellite, but not Glonass-M.
Meridian-M №10?

Remaining options are Meridian-M, Bars-M, Lotos-S1, Tundra and Nivelir.

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/17/2022 12:24 pm »

https://tass.ru/kosmos/14100411

Three impact zones in the Komi autonomous republic (east of Plesetsk) have been announced for a Soyuz-2 launch on March 22 between 15.00 and 17.00 Moscow time (12.00-14.00 UTC). Back-up launch dates are March 23, 24 and 25.

The same impact zones have earlier been announced for launches of Glonass-M, EKS/Tundra and Meridian-M satellites. Since Glonass-M has apparently been ruled out by a source on the NK forum, that would leave Tundra and Meridian-M as possible options. Tundra last flew in November last year and Meridian-M hasn't flown since February 2020. If it is Meridian-M, it will probably be announced as such (like its predecessors) and not receive a Kosmos designation.

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #5 on:** 03/17/2022 08:20 pm »

The inside source on the NK forum now says that the payload is Meridian-M. This should be the third of four Meridian-M satellites ordered by the Ministry of Defense in 2016 (serial number 20).

input~2 · « **Reply #6 on:** 03/21/2022 08:36 pm »

Q1859/22 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
L253 UDARE - ARPOT
N174 NIPSI - UGBAT
P988 LAPIG - RUPAD
T187 IBEBO - OBIRU
T756 BAPES - GUDES
T760 INROR - NILIN
T762 ADMES - OBIRU
T816 AGIDI - ARPOT
T818 SONIB - GAPRA
T825 GISUS - RUPAD
W155 UGBAT - GAKPI
W784 GENSU - TODSA
W785 OTNUK - KUTOB. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1200-1500, 22 MAR 12:00 2022 UNTIL 25 MAR
15:00 2022. CREATED: 18 MAR 06:38 2022

E3032/22 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
G356 ROMNA - VOREG
N992 DINAT - NIKUL
P865 LERPI - INKOR
R372 TIRUN - PIRED
R717 ROPSI - RISIR
W256 ROMEV - ROMNA. SFC - UNL, 22-25 1200-1500, 22 MAR 12:00 2022 UNTIL 25 MAR
15:00 2022. CREATED: 18 MAR 06:29 2022

F0675/22 - ROCKET LAUNCH FROM RUSSIA WILL TAKE PLACE
FLW RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT OF RUSSIA: THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OF
RUSSIA PLANS TO LAUNCH MISSILE INTO SPACE AND TO SINK ITS FRAGMENTS
IN THE WATERS OF THE OCEAN.
CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPACT AREA:
463801S 1550023E
514130S 1630000E
561845S 1630000E
491821S 1511007E
463801S 1550023E
PRIMARY LAUNCH 2203221200
BACKUP AS PER FIELD D. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1200/1500, 22 MAR 12:00 2022 UNTIL 25
MAR 15:00 2022. CREATED: 15 MAR 19:55 2022

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #7 on:** 03/22/2022 08:00 am »

A source on the NK forum says the launch is scheduled for 15.45 Moscow time (12.45 UTC).

Salo · « **Reply #8 on:** 03/22/2022 08:39 am »

Quote from: B. Hendrickx on 03/22/2022 08:00 am

A source on the NK forum says the launch is scheduled for 15.45 Moscow time (12.45 UTC).

Meridian launch 12:48:22 UTC.

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #9 on:** 03/22/2022 11:50 am »

Liftoff confirmed.

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #10 on:** 03/22/2022 11:51 am »

Exact liftoff time 12.48.22.591 UTC.

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #11 on:** 03/22/2022 12:01 pm »

Looks like the payload has been successfully placed into its initial orbit.

Satori · « **Reply #12 on:** 03/22/2022 12:05 pm »

Launch from LC43/3 according to RIA Novisti.

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #13 on:** 03/22/2022 12:49 pm »

If this Meridian launch follows the same profile as earlier ones, we should see a Fregat burn at about T+1h45m to change the orbit from about 200x200 km to roughly 290x36,000 km and another one at around T+2h15m to insert the satellite into its final orbit of about 1,000x39,800 km. After spacecraft separation, the Fregat should perform another burn to place itself into a graveyard orbit.

Salo · « **Reply #14 on:** 03/22/2022 01:01 pm »

Liftoff 12:48:22.591 UTC.

Rondaz · « **Reply #15 on:** 03/22/2022 01:11 pm »

Soyuz rocket with Meridian satellite launched from Plesetsk.

A Soyuz rocket with a Meridian-M satellite was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome.

03/22/2022 03:59 PM (updated: 03/22/2022 04:43 PM)

MOSCOW, March 22 - RIA Novosti. The Soyuz-2.1a rocket with the Meridian-M communications satellite was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region, the Defense Ministry said.

"On March 22 at 15:48 Moscow time, from the launcher No. 3 of the site No. 43 of the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome, the combat crew of the Space Forces of the Aerospace Forces of Russia successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1a medium-class launch vehicle with the Meridian- M," the department said.

Three minutes after the launch, the Space Forces accepted the rocket for escort. At 15:57 Moscow time, the Fregat upper stage with the satellite separated from the launch vehicle. The launch of the spacecraft into the calculated orbit will take several hours.

The Ministry of Defense noted that all pre-launch operations were carried out as usual. The launch was controlled by a ground-based automated control system.

Satellites of the "Meridian" series provide communication between sea vessels and ice reconnaissance aircraft in the area of the Northern Sea Route with coastal and ground stations. Also, the devices expand the capabilities of satellite communication stations in the northern regions of Siberia and the Far East .

https://ria.ru/20220322/raketa-1779469086.html

Rondaz · « **Reply #16 on:** 03/22/2022 01:12 pm »

Upper stage with communication satellite Meridian-M separated from Soyuz rocket.

Upper stage with communication satellite "Meridian-M" separated from the rocket "Soyuz-2.1a".

16:11 22.03.2022

MOSCOW, March 22 - RIA Novosti. The Fregat upper stage with the Meridian-M satellite separated from the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket, which launched on Tuesday from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.

"The space warhead of the Soyuz-2.1a medium-class launch vehicle, as part of the Fregat upper stage and the Meridian-M spacecraft, at the estimated time, 15.57 Moscow time, routinely separated from the third stage of the Soyuz-2.1A launch vehicle ", the department said.

They clarified that the launch of the spacecraft into the calculated orbit by the Fregat upper stage will take several hours.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a space rocket was carried out from the northern cosmodrome at 15:48 Moscow time by the combat crew of the Space Forces of the Aerospace Forces .

The purpose of the satellites of the Meridian series is to provide communication for sea vessels and ice reconnaissance aircraft in the area of the Northern Sea Route with coastal and ground stations. Also, the devices are needed to expand the capabilities of satellite communication stations in the northern regions of Siberia and the Far East .

https://ria.ru/20220322/raketa-1779472562.html

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #17 on:** 03/22/2022 02:15 pm »

NK source reports that spacecraft separation happened on time shortly after 15.00 UTC.

Satori · « **Reply #18 on:** 03/22/2022 02:15 pm »

Other post on NK forum says that the launch was from PU-4.

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #19 on:** 03/22/2022 03:00 pm »

Successful launch confirmed.
https://tass.com/science/1425803

Footage of the launch from Zvezda TV:

Same footage here without the Zvezda logos in the background:
https://tvzvezda.ru/news/20223221751-xUf9A.html